Pokkali Farmers Petition District Administration Over Ambiguous Agricultural Calendar
Pokkali cultivators in Kochi have formally complained to the district administration, highlighting that ambiguity in the agricultural calendar order issued by the Pokkali Land Development Agency (PLDA) is severely disrupting field preparation activities before sowing. The farmers submitted a petition to the district collector, who also serves as the chairperson of the PLDA, expressing concerns about unclear timelines for removing saltwater from their farms.
Core Issue: Ambiguity in PLDA Order
Francis Kalathunkal, a cultivator and coordinator of the Pokkali Samrakshna Samithi in Chellanam, explained the regulatory framework. "The PLDA order, issued every February under the government's 'One Paddy, One Fish' policy, mandates exclusive paddy cultivation from April 15 to November 14. Fish farming is permitted only during the remaining five months of the year," he stated. However, farmers report that fish farmers have exploited this ambiguity in recent years, continuing their operations well past the April 15 deadline, sometimes extending into late May.
Impact on Agricultural Practices
This delay in transitioning from fish farming to paddy cultivation has significant consequences for soil preparation. According to Kerala Agricultural University guidelines, fields must dry out during April's intense summer heat before ploughing can commence. When fish farming persists, saltwater removal is delayed, and pre-monsoon rains typically arrive by mid-May. This combination often prevents the soil from drying sufficiently to flush out accumulated salt effectively.
Under normal agricultural conditions, residual salt is washed away through summer rains after fields are properly shaped into ridges and furrows. Sprouted Pokkali seeds are then sown using monsoon rainwater from early June onward. Any disruption to this carefully timed sequence leaves excess salt in the soil, which directly jeopardizes the entire paddy crop's viability and yield.
United Farmer Demands
Farmers from multiple regions including Chellanam, Ezhikkara, Kumbalangi, Kumbalam, Ezhupunna, Kodamthuruth, and Kadamakkudy have united in their demand for greater clarity in the PLDA's calendar order. They emphasize that precise, unambiguous guidelines are essential for maintaining the delicate balance between paddy cultivation and fish farming that defines the Pokkali agricultural system.
The cultivators' petition represents a collective call for administrative intervention to ensure that the agricultural calendar supports rather than hinders their traditional farming practices, protecting both their livelihoods and this unique agricultural heritage.
